Chapter hundred and thirty eight

Chapter 138

Oliver

We cleared the first floor quickly but found nothing. It didn't deter me from searching further.

I tried not to linger too much to avoid the memories from resurfacing, but I wasn't entirely successful. I could still smell the blood and the burnt flesh. But the need to find Dallas overrode the strong drive to descend into panic.

A tiny voice inside me kept whispering that they weren't here, but I ignored it.

Ethan had traced Mandy to this very place so I was certain she came here. But so far, we hadn't come across anyone or anything that might indicate where they could be.

Did she move her hideout to a new location after our phone call? Maybe I did scare her enough to make her double her attempt to hide Dallas.

“Sir, it doesn't seem like there's anyone in this building?” One of the men that came with me whispered.

A lump formed in my throat at the confirmation that this place was indeed empty.

“Have you checked the upper levels?” I asked, trying to mask my disappointment. There had to be something.

“Yes sir, but we didn't find anything.” he said.

My lungs tightened but I managed to force a breath down. I was about to give up our search and call it quit when a sudden movement caught my eyes.

I immediately went in the direction, moving as stealth but fast as I could. I noticed a door opened and walked right in without thinking much of it. The door shut behind me with a soft click.

I dragged my gaze around and the recognition of this place dawned on me. I could never forget this place despite the renovations. Whoever had led me here knew exactly what he was doing.

This exact spot was where my father took that bullet for me. Where we hid that night before a pole fell and blocked the exit. This was where he shielded me with his body and I inhaled his scent as his skin peeled away because of the fire.

I turned around to walk out but the door had been locked from outside. Someone was here after all. And it's been a trap all along.

I brought my gun to shoot the door open when a voice rang through the room. The voice I had recognized well during these past weeks.

“I wouldn't do that.” he drawled.

I lifted my head and my gaze collided with a camera and an intercom in the room. I aimed my gun at the camera as if it was Ron.

“Where is she?” I asked, my tone a mixture of anger and fear.

“You just found out that I'm the one behind every misfortune in your life and the first thing you do when you finally talk to me is ask about your girlfriend?” He drew a long sigh as if the mere thought of it bored him.

“Who said I just found out?” I mused, cocking my head to the side in the way I knew made people quiver.

It probably wouldn't work on Ron, the man was literally devil incarnate. But I would be damned if I let him sense my desperation. I just needed to keep him talking until my men scour this place for any other clues, or Ron drops a hint of where he was holding Dallas captive.

Ron's chuckle echoed through the room, grating my nerves.
“Ah! Yes, I know. I knew all about your assistant snooping around my car. That woman makes a terrible spy.” he smacked his tongue.

“Where are they?” I asked. I kept my gun trained on the camera, my expression hardened. I was done beating around the bush.

No sound came from his side. I almost thought he had left the intercom before I heard a sigh.

“Alright, I'll give you a chance to see the both of them. But I can't promise the sight would be pleasant for you.”

An hologram projector went on in the middle of the room. My body sagged and I lowered the gun when I saw Dallas. Alive. She was alive. I felt a sense of relief at the sight of her.

She was mouthing something with fear written all over her face but I couldn't hear it. The video was muted. I ran my eyes over her body, scanning for injuries.

She had sustain a cut on her temple, her lower lip was split and her clothes torn. There were several bruises marring her body, especially where her wrists were bound to the chair.

Fresh rage roused in me at the sight of the restraint and Dallas wiggling against it. I took a quick glance at Tabitha and I shook my head. Her injuries were way worse than Dallas. Her left eyes was already swelling shut. I threw her an apologetic look which I wasn't sure she saw. I was the reason for her current situation after all.

I made a mental note to make Ron pay for every single bruise on their body.

I returned my gaze to Dallas and focused my gaze on her face. I finally understood the words she was mouthing, and that the fear on her face wasn't for her, but for me.

“Get out of there. It's a trap.” She mouthed.

She was worried about me as if she wasn't the one in literal danger. But I had already figured out it was a trap the minute I stepped foot in here.

“If you can hear me,” I started. If I wasn't walking out of here alive, I want my last message to be for her and only her. My brave fighter. My Little Monkey.

“I love you so much, Dallas Valencia. And I'm sorry for failing to protect you. I'm sorry for getting you into this mess. Please forgive me.”

Her eyes softened for a fraction of a minute before she began shaking her head. She mouthed something that seem like “this is not goodbye.” She screamed it over and over again but I only smiled in return.

The smile fell the second I saw Lucien stand behind them. I raised my gun and shot straight between his brows. The bullet went through the image and hit the wall, but Lucien flinched. The message was clear. He was dead the second I find him.

The hologram went off and I was once again alone in the room where my doom began.

“Well, that was quite emotional. Until you shot a bullet at one of my men.” Ron drawled.

“I'll transfer the deed of Kang Chemicals to you right now if you let them go.” I said.

I didn't care if I sounded desperate now. Seeing Dallas like that broke my last bit of resolve. I couldn't bare for her to go through anymore suffering. I might just lose my mind.

“Who said I only want Kang Chemicals now?” Ron's voice was laced with amusement as he spoke.

“Alright then. I'll transfer all of Kang empire to you. All the companies, the warehouses, including my house if you want. All you have to do is let them go.” I said without hesitation.

“The entirety of Kang Chemicals is worth twice your net worth, Ron. I'll give you everything if you let them go right now.” I added.

I really did sound desperate now, but I didn't care. My entire net worth was worth billions of dollars. I had stopped keeping a count after the first billion. But none of it is worth more than Dallas. I will give it all away without thinking twice.

“Where would the fun be in that?” He said.

“I'm giving you what you want and more.” I frowned.

His hideous laugh echoed through the room.
“Do you think I'm doing all this just because of a mere grudge over a company your father started?”

“What other reason is there?” I asked.

“I'm guessing Alberto didn't tell you the whole story then.” He sighed.

The amount of silence that followed was infuriating. He was definitely doing it on purpose to make me lose my temper.

“Just tell me and stop beating around the bush.” I snapped.

I was convinced he was stalling and probably plannsure I don't leave here alive.

“Your father was more than a pharmacist, Oliver. He was a also Brother.”